Beth Haire-Lewis

 

Beth was born and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She spent several years in Long Beach, California raising her daughter while working as a Jazz Club Manager.

Beth is a Woman of many talents.

Beth is returning as Director this year for VDay, after performing it three other times with Gloria Weberg and Mary Balfoort-Outwin.
 

She is an enthusiastic water aerobics instructor at the YMCA. 

Beth is currently employed as an HIV Early Intervention Specialist at CARES (Sexual Wellness Services) and enjoys her job, where she helps people who are infected and affected by the HIV virus. She advocates and supports Individuals that were recently diagnosed with HIV. She also does outreach in the Community about HIV awareness and Health risk education. 
 

Beth is also a Lead singer in her band called SANKOFA and plays around the community at various events. She also was a Co-Chair for the Gene Harris Coming Home Concert that was a free successful community event that went on for 21 years. Beth is a former Board Member of the OUTCENTER and has been on the Benton Harbor Arts Association board for about 6 or 7 yrs. She also occasionally MCs at the Open Stage at the Livery.

She is active in her church choir where she Directs the Youth choir. She is a Lover of all people.

Beth is happily married to Michael Lewis, gave birth to 1 daughter and recently became a Grandmother / (GGMoma) as she would call it! She also has a beautiful 4-legged family member named Justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gloria Weberg

 

Born and raised in New York City, Gloria joined the Navy and served 3 years during WWII. At the age of 55, Gloria graduated from Chicago State University and became a social worker. She retired in 1994. She is the parent to 7 children. Gloria is an active volunteer with the OutCenter of Berrien County. In her spare time she loves to quilt, garden and spend time with family and friends.

 

Gloria has appeared in previous Vagina Monologues, including in 2004 at the State Theater and in 2011 at The Livery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Balfoort-Outwin

 

Mary has appeared in previous productions of The Vagina Monologues with her friends and other Vagina Warriors, Gloria Weberg and Beth Haire-Lewis.

 

Mary & her wife Dawn Outwin are owners of Too Hip Chicks. They buy and sell vintage items, collectibles, electronics and records. They also have a YouTube channel (Too Hip Chicks) and have a twice weekly show called Chick Chat Tuesday and Thursdays at noon where they talk about a lot of topics, sometimes all at once. They also have a booth at a local antique mall.

 

Mary and her wife were both born and raised in Michigan where they currently reside in a 1960's ranch in Benton Charter Township.

 

Mary loves quiet time, coffee, genealogy and spending time with their two chonky felines. Mary also enjoys the company of her fabulous mother-in-law and her close friends. Mary loves being creative whether it is crocheting, crafting or working in her gardens. Currently she is reimagining her front yard garden space in an effort to leave it better than she found it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronnika Williams

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Ronnika Williams curates and facilitates stories around black culture. Since a young age Williams has been obsessed with history, nail polish and obituaries. When Ronnika is not diving into someone's story you can find her looking for the best taco in a new area. She loves love and enjoys a good laugh over card games (not Spades, y'all). From the best small town in Michigan, Benton Harbor, Ronnika is surely one to watch as she's preparing for her feature documentary, "Journey of Many Souls." A continuation of her research completed at North Carolina Central University.

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Candice Elders

 

Candice Elders was initially a bit shy about participating in a production centered on a topic still unfortunately considered taboo in many circles, but after learning she’d be in the company of such a diverse array of spectacular women, and in support of local domestic violence survivors, she mustered up her courage. 

 

“I’m so honored to share these profoundly moving and complex stories from women around the world. I hope they continue to inspire conversations, challenge stereotypes, and foster change here in southwest Michigan.”  

 

Originally from West Chicago, and most recently from Marquette, MI., Elders now resides in Saint Joseph with her husband, John, and 9-year-old daughter, Chloe. She serves as Vice President of Marketing for Honor Credit Union. 

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Siobhan Leonard

 

Siobhan is a curly hair enthusiast, dog Mom, and newlywed from Benton Harbor that married from "the other side of the river." She is excited to be a part of this marvelously talented cast, who have made these gripping monologues their own. She hopes they resonate with the audience tonight, as they did with her.

Leslie Pickell

 

Leslie Pickell is a community advocate and organizational partner/strategist. She is also currently doing a term of service with AmeriCorps at Summit Financial Wellness in Benton Harbor. Leslie co-founded and managed The Livery Microbrewery from 2005-2015 and is grateful for the impact it continues to make in southwest Michigan. She serves on numerous committees and is a Board member at The Ghostlight Theatre.  She loves playing euchre, reading books out loud with her friends, live music, and silence. And she loves being part of the exquisite cast of The Vagina Monologues. 

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Leslie Pickell

 

Leslie Pickell is a community advocate and organizational partner/strategist. She is also currently doing a term of service with AmeriCorps at Summit Financial Wellness in Benton Harbor. Leslie co-founded and managed The Livery Microbrewery from 2005-2015 and is grateful for the impact it continues to make in southwest Michigan. She serves on numerous committees and is a Board member at The Ghostlight Theatre.  She loves playing euchre, reading books out loud with her friends, live music, and silence. And she loves being part of the exquisite cast of The Vagina Monologues. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kim Jorgensen Gane

 

Kim is co-parenting (with her husband of 29 years this month!) four adult children across two generations, though not one of them came out of her vagina. She’s been a girl mom, a boy mom, a stepmom, an aunt-mom, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a single mom, a married mom, and she’s “Gigi” to three little girls. 

 

A writer and storyteller, Kim has spent the last seven years as an activist promoting economic empowerment and justice through reproductive rights, voting rights, public education and paid leave. In 2018 she was the Planned Parenthood national storyteller representing Michigan, in 2020 she worked as Communications Director for Chokwe Pitchford’s State House race, and in 2022, she put her (family’s) money where her mouth was and ran for State Senate. 

 

Kim is a three-time PechaKucha presenter and for four seasons she was involved with Listen to Your Mother. In 2014 as a cast member for the northwest Indiana show, and then 2015-2017 as a producer/co-director (with Beth Haire-Lewis!) when she brought the national show to southwest Michigan. Kim is an author with an essay published in the book 51%: Women and the Future of Politics, and she’s currently writing her own book, Mother Activist: Raising Ourselves and the Men We Fall For, a love story. 

 

Kim has wanted to do Vagina Monologues for years and couldn’t be more honored to do it with this spectacular cast, in this space, at this time in history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy Goodson

 

Cindy was born and raised in Benton Harbor, MI, she lived in Houston, TX for 35yrs, and she moved back in 2019, to help her mother.

Cindy is the Family & Community Engagement Specialist at Benton Harbor High School, her alma mater. She is also an Author, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, who enjoys teaching people how to reverse disease, lose excess fat, get fit, look and feel younger, through diet and lifestyle modifications. She founded the Fibroid Healing Academy in 2018, where she houses online courses that teach women holistic and natural alternatives to help eliminate symptoms and shrink uterine fibroids and other womb related issues. Her goal is to reduce the number of unnecessary hysterectomies being performed each year for non-cancerous conditions that in most cases can be healed through diet lifestyle changes.

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Cindy is finishing up the final chapter of her doctoral dissertation in Health Psychology, and will defend this fall.

Cindy loves to entertain and has been on stages since she was about 5 years old singing and dancing. She recently joined The Sankofa Band and LOVES PERFORMING WITH THEM!!! She’s a total geek for personal growth and development and is a serial entrepreneur. She also LOVES BEING A G’MA to her 3 amazing and adorable Grand Divas!!

 

 

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Audrey Peeples

 

Audrey “Chef Audy” Peeples, is a native of Benton Harbor. She is Chef/Owner of Souls Ground Cafe, a plant-based-forward restaurant, juice bar and small event space, located in the downtown Arts District. 

 

She is also a member of a local band, SANKOFA, where she is a Drummer/Percussionist and vocalist. 

 

Audy is an executive board member of the Benton Harbor Arts Association, and also a city appointed board member of the Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority. 

 

In her rare spare time she enjoys reading, leisure time with family and close friends, “rockhounding” at the various local beaches, and jewelry making. 

 

 

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Freya Gilbert

 

250 words to tell you who I am? Not going to happen, so here’s what makes my heart sing for joy: 

My beautiful, brave, brilliant, bold daughter of choice (I call her the daughter of my heart) 

My two cats Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker Gilbert and AnnaLivia Plurabelle Gilbert

My 334 day, 19 hour 23 minute old vulva

So many friends

And now in no particular order, Taco Bell, reading 20 books at a time, preaching from Episcopal pulpits, True Crime podcasts, sitting Zen, buying clothes (should really be closer to the top), driving around Berrien County with no planned route, reading and rereading the first chapter of Finnegans Wake, Zipolite, Mexico and mayonnaise.

Oh, and alpacas too.

What fills my heart with hope?

My daughter’s soon opening yoga studio (@essencenatureyoga on Insta), mentoring/coaching congregations, volunteering at Paws for Humanity, knowing I’m reaching my goal of reading at least 200 books a year, being in this production and shattering ceilings as a trans woman.

 

What do I find uninteresting about myself that probably is interesting?

Growing up in Europe, going to college in three different countries, speaking a foreign language, having an MA in Religious Education, spending 21 years working at the Silver Beach Hotel

 

What life lessons have I learned?

Never trust someone who doesn’t like hot dogs. Stay in your 3-foot world. Always bring your own Tabasco. Love freely. Trust your heart.

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Paula Hawkins

 

Originally from Benton Harbor, Paula has lived and danced in a lot of places but she's called Chicago home for about 24 years. A dance and drama teacher at a fine and performing arts school in Chicago Public Schools, she loves pouring her love for the arts into her students who are all very much "her kids." Paula majored in dance at the University of Wisconsin. She's spent time in New York and Los Angeles where she pursued a career in dance and performed at various venues. She is an IMDb member whose acting and production credits include Marcus Carothers projects Lady and City of Vultures 2 and 3. In her spare time she enjoys golf, Chicago-style stepping, and spending time with her loved ones.